The Toronto Raptors were so impressed by the play of San Antonio Spurs big man Jakob Poeltl that they decided to make a trade for him and reunite him with current All-Star snub and franchise cornerstone Pascal Siakam. Masai Ujiri is pressing the rewind button and taking the team back to 2017.
While Siakam was taken 27th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, it was Poeltl who was viewed as the better prospect initially. Masai Ujiri took him No. 9 overall, but eventually was forced to trade him away to San Antonio in order to acquire Kawhi Leonard.
The Raptors were in dire need of a big man that could protect the basket, grab offensive rebounds, and finish inside. Poeltl can do all three of those things, and Siakam looks to be thrilled with the fact that the Austrian giant is coming back.
Siakam posted an Instagram story with the caption “Jak and Skills back at it” after the move was finalized. While it remains to be seen how Poeltl will fit in with the Raptors, the team’s superstar appears to be thrilled with the fact that his draft mate is coming back to town.
Jak and Skills are really back at it again. pic.twitter.com/bxjLdmSRYu
— THE SHIFT (@theshift_sports) February 9, 2023
Pascal Siakam welcomed Jakob Poeltl to the Toronto Raptors.
The Poeltl trade has been very polarizing. On one hand, the protections for the pick (1-6 protected through 2026) that was traded mean that the Raptors need to make sure they are either one of the worst teams in the league or a postseason for the foreseeable future.
On the other, the Raptors did solve one of their biggest issues by trading for a rim protector and acquiring his Bird rights. As a screener, shot-blocker, rebounder, and interior finisher, Poeltl will bring instant value to a team that had lost many close games due to its bad roster construction.
Poeltl is already familiar with this coaching staff and some of the key components of the rotation, so it might not take very long to acclimate himself in his return trip up north. Toronto may not be done making moves, but adding Poeltl shows that Ujiri is at least trying to compete with this group.
To Spurs: Keldon Johnson, 3 years of DeMar DeRozan, 4.5 years of Jakob Poeltl, 1 first-round pick, 2 second-round picks
— (((Eric Koreen))) (@ekoreen) February 9, 2023
To Raptors: a championship and a developed Jakob Poeltl
Poeltl is not going to make the Raptors a contender by himself, and trading a pick to get him is very risky, but Toronto managed to fill a big hole and get one of Siakam’s best friends back on the team in one fell swoop.